project exposing school board members and school leaders focused on indoctrinating children rather than educating them.CURRENT GRADE: F
There is only one limited option for public dollars to be used for private education. D.C. does have the largest percentage of students attending charter schools. While still overseen by government entities they have shown past success.
Homeschooling requires some reporting and government oversight.
Compulsory attendance is required between ages 5 through under 17.
Education Options
- Opportunity Scholarship Program
- Eligible students must be either recipients of SNAP benefits (food stamps) OR meet income guidelines: at or below 185% of the income threshold for first time applicants or 300% of the income threshold for renewing families.
- Scholarships can be used to attend eligible private schools.
- Amounts are up to $15,000 for high school and up to $10,000 for elementary and middle.
- Payment is issued to the parent.
- 1,311 students participated in 2024 (out of approx. 100,000 students).
- Charter Schools
- Publicly funded.
- 134 charter schools enrolling nearly 47,000 students.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements on the topic of homeschooling:
- Must provide thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration and, at a minimum, include language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education.
- Parent must have high school diploma or equivalent or may petition for a waiver.
- Annual notification of homeschooling must be submitted.
- Must maintain a portfolio of the student’s education materials, which includes evidence of the student’s current work in a range of subjects and must be made available upon request from the government.
Religious Exemptions:
- There are no state specific religious exemption laws.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
